Chapter 168: They Are the Big BOSSes!
Sunlight filtered through the sparse leaves, refracting the flying bubbles into a myriad of colors, dotting the lush green Sabaody Archipelago.
After entering the lawless zone and after Reiner and Luffy intentionally displayed their power, they encountered few obstacles along the way.
Of course, there were occasionally a few who weren't afraid of death. Their fate, well...
"Safe travels, Lord Black Leg!"
"Please be careful on your way!"
A group of bruised and swollen bounty hunters knelt on the ground, bowing their heads to see them off.
"Sanji-bro is so cool!"
"You flatter me, little sister Camie~~" Sanji's eyes turned into hearts as he cupped his hands and floated over.
"This is Grove 15. Our destination is at Grove 13, not far from here," Hachi turned back to remind them.
"Are we finally there? I'm starting to get curious."
Zoro said with his eyes closed, a bit impatiently, "What kind of coating artisan would live in this dump where there's a pirate every two steps and a bounty hunter every three?"
"Because Rayleigh was also a pirate over twenty years ago. Although he's washed his hands of it, he's still being watched by the Marines," Hachi explained, scratching his head with a sheepish laugh.
Franky took a sip of cola and couldn't help but ask curiously, "He's been retired for over twenty years, and the Marines are still watching him?"
"If it's Silvers Rayleigh, as long as he's not dead, the Marines could never pretend they don't see him," Reiner said with a meaningful smile.
"Silvers Rayleigh?"
Robin was slightly stunned. As a historian, even if she wasn't familiar with some of the names that had once shaken the seas, she had still heard of them.
"Eh, do you know Rayleigh?" Seeing their reaction, the simple-minded Hachi subconsciously thought they knew him.
This caused the others to look at him and Robin. Faced with the misunderstanding, he closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep, too lazy to explain.
"It seems the Rayleigh Hachi mentioned really is that person."
Robin waved her hand and said, "I've only heard the name. I have to mention the Pirate King, Roger."
"The Pirate King?!" Luffy was instantly interested, quickly pedaling over.
Robin nodded at him. "Mm, Silvers Rayleigh, title 'Dark King', was the first mate of the Roger Pirates. Known as Roger's right hand, he's a legendary pirate..."
"Wait, now that Robin mentions it, I think I've seen it in a book!"
"Indeed, I remember now too."
"To think it's that Dark King!"
With Robin's explanation, the others also reacted. Although this name no longer appeared in the newspapers, many people had still heard of it.
Reiner couldn't help but open one eye and glance over. Golden Lion was also a legendary figure, but he didn't see them react like this.
As expected, everyone only remembers things related to first place; no one pays attention to second place.
"I didn't expect you to know such a big shot," Zoro said, looking at Hachi with interest.
Reiner cradled his head in his hands, a corner of his mouth lifting as he teased, "As the savior of the Pirate King's first mate, you didn't learn any skills from him in over twenty years, and only learned how to make takoyaki?"
"I just happened to save him from a shipwreck when I was a kid, and then we became friends."
Hachi scratched his head, embarrassed. "Later, I followed Brother Arlong, so I never came back to find him."
"Hahaha, I can't wait to meet him! I wonder what the Pirate King's first mate is like."
After learning the other's identity, Luffy was suddenly full of anticipation.
Reiner knew his anticipation was likely to be in vain. Going to Shakky's to say hello beforehand and scrounge a lunch would be fine, but that old man probably wasn't at home.
Selling himself as a slave when he ran out of money... what a novel way to make a quick buck. He couldn't help but think of something else and turned his head.
"By the way, Hachi, what are the human trafficking venues here?"
"Located on Grove 1."
Before the other could speak, Reiner added. He remembered Rayleigh was auctioned off there. Preparing some information in advance couldn't hurt.
However, that was as much as he could narrow it down. As for why he remembered so clearly that Rayleigh was auctioned off on Grove 1...
He had to thank a certain magical 'navigator' who mistook 41 for 1.
"There are many slave shops here, I don't know them well. But for Grove 1, the most famous is probably the 'Human Auctioning House'." Hachi said, rubbing his chin and looking up in thought.
"After all, even the Celestial Dragons are frequent customers. Speaking of which, tomorrow is the fixed monthly auction day. Rich merchants and even royalty from all over will be there."
"Isn't human trafficking forbidden worldwide? Aren't the Celestial Dragons the nobles who control the World Government? Yet they themselves engage in such activities?" Nami frowned.
This kind of absurd matter displeased her.
Unlike the naturally kind Nami, Robin, who had drifted between dark forces since she was young, clearly understood more. She said in a low voice:
"Human trafficking is indeed illegal, but if you change the name to 'Job Placement Center', it's a different story. What's more, even if they blatantly break the law, who can judge the Celestial Dragons?"
The World Nobles are the highest authority. Even the most powerful army on the seas belongs to them. What is the law in their eyes?
"There are those who can. As long as you're strong enough."
Reiner rested his head on his hands and looked up at the sky. "Or if you're bold enough and not afraid to die, you can also attack them as you please."
The Fish-Man hero, Fisher Tiger, even fought his way into Mary Geoise.
"Wait! Please don't say such things! This island is right below Mary Geoise, so it's really possible to encounter Celestial Dragons! If they hear you, you're dead for sure!"
Hachi's face was panicked. He repeatedly shook his head and waved his hands to stop them from continuing the discussion. Clearly, his fear of the Celestial Dragons was deeply ingrained.
"Since we're on this topic, listen up, all of you. I'm begging you," Hachi suddenly became serious and said:
"If you encounter a Celestial Dragon on this island, please, you must not do anything to offend them. Just kneel and lower your heads until they pass, and everything will be fine."
"Huh?"
"What kind of joke are you telling?"
"They'd better not run into me."
Zoro's eyes darkened, a murderous intent instantly erupting from him. "Dare to make me kneel? I'll definitely cut him down."
Reiner looked at the sky boredly and glanced at him. "For once, I support you cutting someone. Remember to aim for the neck when you do."
"I'm not kidding you! If you harm a Celestial Dragon, it will bring an Admiral!" Hachi shouted anxiously, his voice involuntarily rising.
"An Admiral!"
"Is it that serious?!"
"Even the highest military power will be deployed for them?"
The cowardly trio exclaimed in shock. The others also looked grave. The deterrent power of an Admiral was still very high.
Reiner's group of four, however, was nonchalant. It wasn't that they were confident they could defeat an Admiral, but more importantly, their pride was higher.
Harming a Celestial Dragon would bring an Admiral, but even if they met an Admiral, they wouldn't kneel. So there was even less chance they would kneel to some damn Celestial Dragon.
However, seeing Hachi's expression, the group dropped the subject.
Reiner changed the topic, talking about what rides to go on at the amusement park later. The group chatted cheerfully as they made their way to Grove 13.
They arrived before a small hill, on which a bar was built. They stopped their bubble bikes and got off.
"We're here. This is the place," Hachi said, leading the group through the bubbles rising from the grass, up a long flight of stairs to the front of the bar.
[Shakky's Rip-Off Bar]
"Well~~, to call it a rip-off joint, it even specifically warns people they'll be fleeced if they enter. What a user-friendly way to rip people off," Reiner said, looking up at the sign.
Creak~~
Just then, the bar door opened, and a woman with a fine figure and a sexy short haircut walked out.
The woman had a cigarette dangling from her mouth and was dragging two large, bloody men. Judging by their attire, they were likely pirates.
Seeing her and the two long, scarlet bloodstains on the floor behind her, Usopp was so scared his eyes flew out.
"This is how she rips people off!!"
She literally rips them off?!
"It's been a long time, Shakky," Hachi said with a simple-minded smile and a greeting.
Shakky was stunned for a moment upon seeing him, then her eyes lit up as she came over. "Hachi! What brings you here? Have customers?"
The two, who hadn't seen each other for a long time, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then Shakky led them into the bar.
The interior was simply furnished. Besides a few round stools at the bar, there were only sofas placed against the walls on both sides.
Fortunately, their group was only about a dozen people, so it was still spacious enough.
Hachi introduced them to each other one by one, although his knowledge of Reiner and the others was probably less than the intelligence they had gathered on their own.
Shakky stood behind the bar, handed over two glasses of drinks, and rested her hands on the counter, asking with great interest, "Monkey-bro, you have the same surname as Garp..."
"Ah, he's my grandpa."
Luffy picked up his drink and said frankly, "Do you know my grandpa?"
"Mm, I used to be a pirate and was chased all over the world by your grandpa."
Hearing Shakky's words, Reiner chuckled. "Then you must be very strong to have not been caught. The last person your old man chased all over the world ended up becoming the Pirate King."
"Hehehe~~, Reiner-bro is so amusing."
Shakky squinted her eyes and said with a smile, "Hachi said you're here looking for Rayleigh to coat your ship. But unfortunately, he's not here right now."
"It doesn't matter. More importantly, what color panties are you wearing today?" Brook asked, being a pervert in a very gentlemanly way.
"They're purple today," Shakky replied directly, a cigarette dangling from her lips.
"Yohohoh—Ouch!"
Bang!!
Brook was halfway through his laugh when Nami, veins popping on her forehead, sent him flying into the door panel with one punch.
Then, after some "effective communication" from Nami, Shakky explained Rayleigh's situation.
That old man had gone out to gamble and chase women and hadn't been back for half a year.
This was as Reiner expected, but what he didn't expect was...
Bang!!
Nami suddenly got angry and sent him flying into the door panel with one punch. "Hmph! The Pirate King's first mate is probably no good either!"
???
So?
Reiner and Brook, completely bewildered, slowly slid down to the floor together.
"Quite spirited, little girl. It seems this year's two strongest Supernovas are thoroughly suppressed by you," Shakky smiled faintly.
"Supernova?" Nami was confused.
"It's a fancy name, really just for a group of rookie pirates with bounties over a hundred million," Reiner said, propping his head up as he got up from the floor and walked back to the bar to sit down.
"The Grand Line doesn't just have one route, but they all eventually come here to go to Fishman Island. The pirates with bounties over a hundred million who successfully arrive are called that year's Supernovas."
"It's probably as Reiner-bro said," Shakky confirmed his answer, blowing out a ring of smoke. She then added:
"The Supernovas who have weathered the bizarre climate of the Grand Line and fought their way through thousands of pirates are always very eye-catching existences every year."
"Sounds quite interesting," hearing this, Zoro, leaning against the sofa, had the corner of his mouth lift slightly.
Nami pointed at herself, bewildered. "Eh? In that case, am I also a Supernova?"
After seeing Shakky nod in response, her body suddenly went limp. She趴 on the ground, shedding tears of regret.
"It's over... It's completely over! Good heavens, I don't want to be that famous!"
"The five of you here, plus the nine on the island, there are a total of fourteen Supernovas gathered here now. It's truly an unprecedented year," Shakky said, taking out a list from under the bar and handing it over.
"Fourteen criminals with bounties over one hundred million!!" Chopper was dumbfounded, his jaw dropping straight to the floor.
"There are still nine others?!"
The others behind him exclaimed. Although their own ship had five people with bounties over a hundred million...
...to Chopper and the others, a pirate with a bounty over a hundred million was still a very powerful existence.
"You've even compiled a list?"
Reiner took the list with surprise. The others also gathered around.
The list had photos attached, along with each person's name and pirate crew.
"More importantly, your crew alone takes up a third of the spots. A tall tree attracts the wind. Some of them are already getting restless, and quite a few of them, you know," Shakky said with a playful smile.
"From the intelligence I have, half of them are preparing to come and challenge you. The others, although they haven't shown a clear stance, will definitely come to join in the fun."
"What!!"
"Wait! Why?!"
"We don't even know them!"
The cowardly trio immediately panicked and shouted. This was too inexplicable!
They had only just landed on the island today! They hadn't done anything wrong and were already being targeted?!
"Think about it from another angle. If you entered the New World, wouldn't you go and challenge those lofty powerhouses of the sea?" Shakky asked with a smile.
"Probably would."
"Of course!"
"Of course not!"
"Exactly! Why challenge them!"
Her question was met with two different kinds of answers.
Obviously, the ones who answered in the affirmative were, naturally, Luffy, Reiner, Zoro, and Sanji.
Among them, Reiner and Sanji were not war-like, but they were competitive!
Without a doubt, the four of them were the most competitive on the ship, which was one of the reasons their strength improved the fastest.
"I see. People who can fight their way through thousands of pirates all have some pride. How could they possibly turn a blind eye to us?" Reiner understood in his heart, a corner of his mouth lifting.
A tall tree attracts the wind. If it doesn't attract wind, it just means it's not big enough!
"Clearly, we are very strong. So strong that others have no choice but to see us as a challenge!"
Luffy slammed the table with his large hand and said with a grin, "Then bring it on! We're not afraid! Hee hee hee."
"Ladies, please rest assured. No matter how many enemies come, I will protect you," Sanji lowered his head, lit a cigarette, and spoke faintly.
"Things have suddenly become interesting..."
Zoro rested one hand on his sword hilt, a fiery glint flashing in his eyes. "As a curtain call to bid farewell to the first half of the Grand Line before entering the New World, I think it's very fitting."
"Mm, I'll cheer for you!" The most cowardly Supernova in history, Nami, gave an encouraging gesture.
"Others aside, you'll definitely have to fight, Nami. Ever since you ate the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, you've never shown your true strength," Reiner rolled his eyes at her.
Nami was actually very strong. On Thriller Bark, even if she had been the one to fight Moria, it would have been an easy win.
Here, besides Law using his ability to put Sea-Prism Stone on her, almost no one else could do anything to her.
If she really went all out, she alone could crush all the other Supernovas!
The atmosphere in the room made Shakky inexplicably excited. For pirates, the Supernovas were objects of worship and praise, like stars.
And what she loved to do most was to keep an eye on the rookies. Among them, the one she was most optimistic about was, of course, the Straw Hat crew!
"I have a feeling that this island is about to experience an unprecedented great riot!" Reiner grinned.
This time, they were no longer the ones challenging someone, but the ones being challenged!
—The final BOSSes have appeared!!
(End of chapter)
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